2018 Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute (CPBI) Ontario Regional Conference, Ottawa, ON

I have been at the CPBI conference since Wednesday.  They are in different parts of the province every year ... this year it was at the Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre. In addition to being the chair of the entertainment committee for the past two conferences (I've been a conference volunteer on the entertainment committee for six years), I was also co-chair of the conference itself this year.

All delegates checked in on Wednesday ...

All delegates received a thank you gift of Belgian chocolates

Wednesday night there was a welcome reception in the LIFT Resto Lounge.

There were workshops and plenaries yesterday and today in the pension/investment and benefits streams.  First thing yesterday morning was our key note speaker, Justin Kingsley ... Adapt or Die. He was funny, entertaining and inspiring.

I work in the retirement industry so tended to attend those workshops. The first one I attended was Ontario has changed the DB funding framework - Are you making the most of the new rules? presented by Karen Reed (Eckler Ltd.) and Linda Byron (AON). I work in the DC retirement industry so a lot of the information went over my head.

Then I attended the Cybersecurity - It Will Make You Wannacry plenary presented by Porter Hefferman (Emond Harden LLP) and Amanda Edmunds (Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada).  It was interesting.

Last night there were cocktails on the top floor of the hotel.

Supper was served in one of the ballrooms, followed by Christine (my conference co-chair) and Tash (chair of the CPBI Council) presenting the 2018 volunteer of the year award. I was honoured and surprised that it was to me!

Entertainment was circus performers, which was fun.

The first workshop I attended this morning was All about Administration:  Dealing with Aging Employees and Estates presented by Jean Valois (Morneau Shepell Ltd.) and Natasha Monkman (Hicks Morley).  I got a lot out of this workshop that I can use in my job.

Then I went to a benefits workshop as it sounded interesting ... Fraud and Abuse - A Case Study in Protecting Your Benefits Plan presented by Mark Russell (Toronto Transit) and Steve Richardson (Green Shield Canada).  I'm glad I went as I enjoyed it.

The closing plenary was AI in the Pension and Benefits Field presented by Xavier Debane (Manulife).  It's amazing to learn how far AI (artificial intelligence) is and will be used in our industries.

Lunch was provided "to-go" so everyone could scamper off to head home.

It was a fun conference.  Lots of great information and networking!  The next one will be in London in the spring of 2020.